Rotating cylinder outboard motor



Oct. 14, 1958 J.' STUCKE 2,855,912

ROTATING CYLINDER OUTBOARD MOTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1955 John Suc/re INVENTOR.

BY aaa/#4W MTLW 011.14, 1958 J. srucKE 2,855,912

ROTATING CYLINDER OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed Sept. 29, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 John Smc/re IN VEN TOR.

BY WWW/ey 5mt!! Oct. H4, 1958 Filed sept. 29, 1955 J. STUCKE ROTATING CYLINDER OUTBOARD MOTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 Fig. 4

John Srl/cke INVENTOR.

BY WWW/45M@ United States s claims. (ci. 12s-59) This-invention generally relates to an outboard motor, and more specifically provides an outboard motor employing a multiple cylinder and piston driving arrangement employing a single set of inlet and exhaust ports for the multiple cylinder and piston arrangements.

An object of the present invention is to provide an outboard motor having a pair of side-by-side cylinders with pistons reciprocal therein together with a connecting rod and crankshaft power assembly wherein each of the cylinders includes a rotatable sleeve having a cylinder head mounted rigidly therein together with a single port for selective alignment with exhaust and inlet openings together with a spark plug for igniting the fuel mixture for supplying power impulses to a crankshaft for driving a propeller, thereby propelling a boat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an outboard motor in accordance with the preceding object which includes a single inlet and exhaust openingin the main body of the motor for both of the cylinders, thereby simplifying and forming a symmetrically arranged motor.

Further objects of the present invention reside in the provision of a reversing mechanism together with means for driving the accessories and adjustably mounting the outboard motor on the transom of a boat.

Other important objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ruggedness, dependability, balance, adaptation for its particular purposes and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing and maintenance costs.

These together with other objects and ladvantages,

which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation asfmorey fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view taken substantially through the center of the outboard motor of the present invention illustrating the structural details thereof;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view with the Aclosure plate removed illustrating the construction of the cylinders and the intermeshing gears on the ends thereof;`

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of construction of the water jacketed block together with the inlet and exhaust ports formed therein; Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon a longitudinal -plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure l illustrating the structural arrangement of the cylinder sleeves and the bearing means therefor;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5--5 of Figure 1 illustrating details of the reversing yoke together with the double spur gear for reversing rotation of the propeller;

atent O I cylinder sleeves; and

Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating the relationship of the ports in the engine block to the ports in the rotatable cylinder sleeves.

Referring now specically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the outboard motor of the present invention which includes a block or housing generally designated by the numeral 12 and including a pair of horizontally disposed cylindrical members 14 positioned on top of each other and integrally formed with each other. Each of the cylindrical members 14 includes a hollow portion forming a water jacket designated by the numeral 16. The central areabetween the cylindrical members 14 is also provided with a water jacket area 18. Each of the cylindrical members 14 is provided with a longitudinal bore 20 rotatably receiving a cylinder sleeve generally designated by the numeral 22 wherein a cylindrical bearing 24 is disposed between the inner surface of the longitudinal bore 20 and the rotatable cylinder sleeve 22. One end of the cylindrical members 14 terminate in an integral outwardly flared housing portion 26 to which is detachably secured a generally semi-cylindrical closure member 28 wherein the housing 26 and the closure member 28 are provided with projecting lianges 30 with fastening bolts 32 extending therethrough and permitting separation of the closure 28 from the housing 26.

Disposed within the housing 26 is a crankshaft 34 having offset journals 36 integrally formed thereon together with counter-balance members 38. The crankshaft 34 is journaled in bearings 40 for supporting the same rotatably in transverse relation to the rotatable cylinder sleeves 22 wherein the crankshaft 34 is substantially vertically disposed and the cylinder sleeves 22y are horizontally disposed. The closure member 28 is provided with openings 42 therein together with inspection plates 44 held thereon by fastening bolts 46 whereby the crankshaft throw journals 36 may be inspected. The lower end of the crankshaft 34 is provided with` an inwardly extending socket 48 and is provided with a bevel gear 50 secured thereto and journaled in a thrust bearing 52.

Connected to each of the crank journals 36 is aconnecting rod 54 with a piston 56 on the free end thereof for reciprocal movement within the rotating cylindrical sleeve 22. The piston 56 may be provided with the `usual piston rings 58 for sealingy thepiston 56 to the inner surface of the cylindrical sleeve 22 and the usual wrist pin and connecting rod bearings may be provided.

The outer end of each of the cylindrical sleeves 22 is provided with a spur gear 60 integrally formed therewith and forming a peripheral ange for 'engagement with a recess 62 in the end of the cylindrical members 14 forming the block 12. A closure plate 64 isattached to the outer ends of the cylindrical members 14 by removable fastening bolts 66, thereby forming a closure for the end of the block 12 and suitable thrust ,bearing members 68 are disposed between the closure plate 64 and the outer longitudinal surface of the gears 60, thereby capturing the gears 60 between the bearings 68 and the ange formed by the recess 62 in the cylindrical members 14. The closure plate 64 is provided with openings 70 having grommets 72 therein for rotatably receiving a spark plug wire 74 encased in any suitable tubular member. The lower end of the plate l64 is provided with an opening 76 to permit mounting and driving of an oil pump. A spark plug 78 is disposed at the inner end of the tubular spark plug wire member 74 `and is supported by the sleeve 22 for igniting a yfuel mixture by an ignition spark supplied by a conventional igniter such as a. distributor or magneto which may be connected vto wires 74 with any type of pick-up such as a commutator ing engagement with the spur gears 60 on the rftble cylindrical sleeve 22 wherebyl lthe 1loWe:rrnoqst cylindrical sleeve 22 is rotated in one dirton, iand the upperost cylindrical sleeve 22 is rotated in the 'o'p'p'site direction, due to the meshing engagement of the gears 60. The other end of the shaft 82 is provided with a bevel 'gear 84 which is in constant meshing engagement with the kbevel gear 50 secured to the lower end of the crankshaft 34 wherein the shaft 80 will be caused to rotate when vthe crankshaft 34 is rotated, thereby rotating the cylindrical sleeves 22 at the same time. The 'speed of the shaft 80 will be equal to the crankshaft 34, and due to the reduction caused by the relative sizeof gear 82 and the gears 60, the cylindrical sleeves 22 will rotate at a slower rate of speed than the crankshaft 34; In fact, the cylindrical sleeves 22 will rotate at one-half the speed of the crankshaft 34.

Referring now specifically to Figure 3, it will be seen that an inlet port 86 is provided in one side of the block or housing 12 wherein the inlet port 86 is divided into a pair of diverging ports 88 and 90. Diametrically opposed to the inletport 86 is an exhaust port 92 which also terminates at its inner end in diverging ports 94 which communicate with the longitudinal bore 20 and the cylindrical bearings 24 are provided with openings 96 in alignment with the diverging ports 88, 90, 94 and 95 for -permitting communication of the inlet port and outlet port with the cylindrical sleeve 22.

Each of the cylindrical sleeves 22 includes an elongated cylinder 100 having a generally square opening 102 adjacent the center thereof together with a transversely disposed cylinder head 104 extending across the cylindrical member 100 kadjacent one end of the opening or port 102.` The cylinder head 104 in each of the cylindrical sleeves 22 is` inclined substantially as illustrated in Figure l, whereinfthe incline of the cylinder heads 104 is identicalwhen the pistons 56 are disposed in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.

In operation of the motor, a suitable fuel mixture providing device will be employed, such as a carburetor or the like, for supplying a fuel mixture tothe inlet port 86, wherein the inlet port 88 will be aligned with the ports `102 in the upper'cylindrical sleeve 22, thereby admitting a combustible mixture as the piston 56 moves away from the cylinder head 104. As the piston 56 continues to move and the crankshaft 34 continues to rotate, the port 102 in the cylindrical sleeve 22 will become misaligned with the port 88, thereby sealing the cylinder 100 during the compression stroke of the piston 56. As the piston 56 approaches its top dead center position, the spark plug 78 will ignite the combustible mixture therein for exerting force downwardly on the piston 56 thereby forming a power stroke for rotating the crankshaft 34. As the piston56 moves to its bottom dead center on the power stroke and begins to rise on the exhaust stroke, the port 102 of the upper cylindrical sleeve 22 will become aligned with the exhaust port 95, thereby exhausting the combustion products through the exhaust port 92. The same sequence of operation occurs in the bottom cylindrical sleeve 22 wherein the common inlet port 86 andthe common exhaust port 92 provides-inlet and exhaust for both of the cylindrical sleeves 22, thereby providing a symmertical engine of a simplified construction. v

For supporting the engine 10,a depending bracket 106 is provided on the block 12 on which is provided a transverse pin 108 pivotally receiving a cylindrical rnember 110 having a depending member 1'12 extending ltherefrom wherein the depending member 112 is providedwitha flange 114 for rotatably supporting'the dependingrnember 112 in a tubular sleeve 11'6 mounted on a'vspportin'g clamp 118 utilized for attachment to the transom 120 of a boat. vSuitable clamp screws 122 are provided in the clamp 118 for clamping the clamp 118 to the transom 120, thereby supporting the tubular sleeve 116 thereon. The transverse pin 124 is provided in the lower end of the depending member 112, thereby retaining the depending member 112 within the tubular sleeve 116 and permitting rotation about a longitudinal `axis which is substantially vertical. The sleeve 110 journaled on the transverse pin 108 is provided with an 'upstanding projecting lug 126 receiving a transverse pin 128 for selective engagement with one of a series of arcuately arranged apertures 130 in the bracket 106, thereby permitting adjustment of the motor 10 about a substantially vertical and transverse or horizontal axis to permit universal adjustment thereof.

Extending downwardly from the housing 26 of the block 12 is a vertically disposed tubular housing 132 secured thereto by fastening bolts 134 on which the skeg 134 is mounted 'at the bottom thereof. A propeller 136 is secured to a horizontally disposed shaft 138 journaled in the housing 132 and the shaft 138 has a bevel gear 140 on the inner end thereof in meshing engagement with a bevel gear 142 slidably splined to a vertically disposed drive shaft 144 by a splined connection 146, thereby permitting vertical movement of the drive shaft 144 through the bevel gear 142 and yet driving the bevel gear 142 since the bevel gear 142 is journaled on a supporting -member 148 in the housing 132,

The upper end of the drive shaft 144 is provided with a reduced portion 150 slidably received in the socket 48 in the lower end of the crankshaft 34 and a bevel gear 152 is slidably mounted on the upper end ofthe drive shaft 144 and is journaled'on bearings 154 and the shaft 144 and is in meshing engagement with the bevel gear 84-onjthe end of the shaft 80.

A takeoff shaft 156 extends through the housing 26 and is provided with a bevel gear 158 on the inner end thereof which `is in meshing engagement with the bevel gear 152 on the drive shaft 144 as well as the bevel gear 50 on th'e crankshaft 34 wherein the shaft 156 may be employed for driving a water pump or any other necessary accessory.

A shift lever designated by the numeral 160 and generally being in the form of a bellcrank is pivotally mounted on the housing 26 and terminates in a U-shaped yoke 162 in engagement with an annular member 164 which -i's slidably keyed to the shaft 144. The annular member 164 includes an annular groove 166 receiving the yoke 164 Vforlongitudinal movement of the annular member 164. The opposing surfaces of the annular member 154 are provided with projecting teeth 158 adapted to engage in recesses in either the bevel gear 50 on the crankshaft 34 or the bevel gear 152 on the drive shaft 144, thereby providing a forward, reverse and neutral arrangement for the outboard motor 10 to permit control of the propeller 136.

In operation, power is transmitted through the crankshaft 34 to the bevel gear 50 at all times, and due to the meshing engagement of the bevel gear 84 with the bevel gear 50, the shaft 80 will be rotated at all times, as will the bevel gear 152 and the bevel gear 158, since they are all in intermeshing relation. Due to the journaling of the bevel gear 152 on the drive shaft 144, the drive shaft 144 will not be rotated when the annular member 164 is in the neutral position, as illustrated in Figure 1. lf the shift lever 160 is moved to engage the upper teeth 168 with the recesses 170 in the bevel gear 50, the drive shaft 144 will be rotated in the same direction as the crankshaft 34 inasmuch as the annular member 164 is keyed to and non-rotative in relation to the sl1aft144. If the shift lever 160 is moved to the reverse position or the other extreme position, the teeth 168 on the lower surface of the annular member 164 will engage the recesses 170 in the bevel gear 152 thereby rotating the shaft 144 in the same direction'as the bevel gear 152, which is in the opposite direction fiom'the crankshaft 34.

The engine and the details of construction provide a horizontally disposed multicylinder outboard motor having a rotatable cylindrical sleeve with a single port therein together with common ports in the block for providing inlet and exhaust for both of the cylinders, thereby permitting a symmetrical type of outboard motor which is efficient in operation, easy to repair and relatively light in weight, in accordance with the power provided.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An outboard motor comprising a block having a pair of side-by-side cylinders, a rotatable cylindrical sleeve in each of said cylinders, a crankshaft, a piston in each sleeve, a connecting rod connecting the piston to the crankshaft whereby reciprocation of the piston in the sleeve will cause rotation of the crankshaft, means for supporting said block, said cylindrical sleeve being rotated in timed relation to the reciprocation of the piston, said block having an inlet port and exhaust port, said cylindrical sleeve having a transverse at cylinder head with ignition means and a single opening selectively communicating with the inlet and exhaust ports during the intake and exhaust stroke of the piston for supplying a combustible mixture to the sleeve and discharging the combustion products.

2. An outboard motor comprising a block having a pair of side-by-side cylinders, a rotatable cylindrical sleeve in each of said cylinders, a crankshaft, a piston in each sleeve, a connecting rod connecting the piston to the crankshaft whereby reciprocation of the piston in the sleeve will cause rotation of the crankshaft, means for supporting said block, said cylindrical sleeve being rotated in timed relation to the reciprocation of the piston, said block having an inlet port and exhaust port, said cylindrical sleeve having a transverse flat cylinder head with ignition means and a single opening selectively communicating with the inlet and exhaust ports during the intake and exhaust stroke of the piston for supplying a combustible mixture to the sleeve and discharging the combustion products, said cylinder head being inclined inwardly from the outer edge of the opening to create turbulence in the incoming combustible mixture.

3. An internal combustion engine for outboard motor use comprising a block having a cylindrical bore extending therethrough, a crankshaft transversely of the bore at one end thereof, a crankcase enclosing and supporting said crankshaft, a cylindrical sleeve rotatably journaled in said bore, said bore having an annular recess at the other end, said sleeve having .a peripheral ange projecting outwardly therefrom and received in said recess, a closure member for said recess for capturing the ange on the sleeve thus preventing longitudinal movement of the sleeve and permitting rotation thereof, a transverse cylinder head in said sleeve, said head having a flat inner surface, an ignition means in said cylinder head, a piston reciprocably disposed in said sleeve, a connecting rod interconnecting the piston and the crank on the crankshaft for converting the reciprocating movement of the piston to rotation of the crankshaft, said block having an inlet and exhaust port communicating with the bore, said -sleeve having a single opening therein inwardly of the head for sequential registry with the inlet and exhaust ports in the block thereby permitting entry of a charge of combustible mixture and exhaust of the products of combustion after the working stroke of the piston.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said transverse cylinder head has the inner surface thereof disposed in an inclined plane with the outer edge of the opening coinciding with the inner surface of the outermost portion of the cylinder head thereby deilecting the incoming combustible mixture towards the piston for creating a turbulence in the incoming charge.

5. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylindrical member, a block rotatably supporting and encircling said cylindrical member, means interconnecting the cylindrical member and block for precluding longitudinal movement of the cylindrical member, said block having a pair of circumferentially spaced and aligned openings therein, one of said openings defining an inlet for a combustible mixture, the other of said openings dening an exhaust for the products of combustion, said cylindrical member having a transverse head with the inner surface thereof being flat and inclined in relation to a transverse plane disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member, said cylindrical member having a single opening therein for sequential alignment with the openings in said block, said single opening in the cylindrical member being disposed at the outermost end of the cylindrical member whereby incoming combustible mixture will impinge upon the inclined surface of the head thereby providing turbulence to the mixture, a piston reciprocable in said cylindrical member, a crankshaft extending transversely of the cylindrical member, a connecting rod interconnecting the piston and crankshaft, means interconnecting said cylindrical member and crankshaft and driving said cylindrical member in timed relation to reciprocation of the piston, and ignition means in said head for igniting the combustible mixture, said means interconnecting the crankshaft and cylindrical member also transmitting power from the .crankshaft to a power shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 667,298 Cunningham Feb. 5, 1901 1,096,683 Clough May 12, 1914 1,121,682 Snell Dec. 22, 1914 1,149,670 Moen Aug. 10, 1915 1,151,455 Gay Aug. 24, 1915 1,181,634 Bivert May 2, 1916 1,267,787 Nance May 28, 1918 1,657,399 Hughes Jan. 24, 1928 1,839,458 Anglada Jan. 5, 1932 2,209,301 Johnson et al. July 23, 1940 2,227,247 Conover Dec. 31, 1940 2,444,696 Riestra et al July 6, 1948 

